webmastir

yeah I know... noob shit here... but I've always wondered...

1.) Can you switch from D5 to D4 while in the middle of driving?

2.) Can you switch from D5 to D5/SS mode while in the middle of driving

3.) Does any of this damage your tranny, or is it sort of designed for being able to do this?

fsttyms1

Its perfectly fine. You wont hurt any thing on any of your questions.

'02_TL-S

Won't hurt anything.. Tranny makes 5 to 4 shift all the time by itself..basically the same thing when you put it in D4..tells the tranny to downshift.

webmastir

thanks

01tl4tl

may I suggest a read of the owner manual, which also list the max up and downshift speed limits for SS
Avoid using SS to slow down- brakes are for that
Its fine to use for fun in the mountains and backroads
Avoid repeated downshifts into 2nd and 3rd at max rpm/speed- that puts the hurt on the clutch packs and these trans have enough problems already

Use auto D4 in traffic and hills, keeps it from hunting for 5th

Here is the free owner book online- click year then model- wait for pdf file, use hand icon and index to go to any subject
https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/...01_OMANUAL.asp
also register with acura as the owner 1-800-382-2238x5 ask if any open recalls or extended warranty you need to know about
plus reg with the online system- different system- http://owners.acura.com/registration...erstepone.aspx

Need cars VIN for both of those, the 800 is customer care and sends out recall notices if one happens in the future- so they need a real address to contact owners

speedemon90

^ how you said use D4 in traffic and hills. Wouldnt that lower the mpg well not for hills cause 5th in hills is not the best gear but your car should know that right and go into the right gear for the uphill anyway. For downhill it will probably go to 5th depending on the speed.

01tl4tl

5th is overdrive and loses mileage in the wrong power band.
In stop and go traffic it shouldnt be trying for 5th- 4th will keep it in the lower gears
Approaching a big hill- 4th has some torque to get up the hill
If you cant figure out to use D5 downhill you shouldnt be driving!

READ the owner book- I dont make this stuff up!

mestizoracer310

Just to double check, it WILL NOT damage the trans in any way by switching from D5 to tiptronic and vise versa WHILE the car's in motion? I figure w/ all the problems these trans are causing us, it would be more pertinent to come to a complete stop, THEN choose D5 or tiptronic, then proceed. Am I just "wasting time" or will doing so help extend and protect the trans?

01tl4tl

PLEASE read the owner book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The trans is electronically controlled- not a cable connect like older cars had
All you are doing is sending a signal thats a request for shift- the computer decides to give it to you or not
Its fine to shift back and forth SS to D5 at will- it automatically goes into the gear it was on the D5 side,,if you were really in 3rd it goes to 3rd--if freeway cruise it will stay 5

follow my other advice on not downshifting and use of brakes- thats what will preserve your trans far better than wild guesses and stopping for no reason-
thats actually putting more wear on trans as it now has to accellerate thru 2nd and 3rd again--get it?

mestizoracer310

Thank you sir. At this time I can't find the manual or else I would've looked in there...sorry to make ya "angry"...

webmastir

I've read the owners manual several times over the years, and I don't remember it addressing the switching from D4, D5, SS etc while in motion *shrug*. I guess i didn't read it well enough eh?
But whatever, I know now thanks to the replies..

01tl4tl

free owner book!!!! click your year then model- wait for pdf file to open
Use hand icon to navigate the index
Never hurts to read it again--

https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/...01_OMANUAL.asp

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Yea, it doesn't explicitly say you can do it in motion. It just says, to go from D5 to SS mode just push it over. I wondered the same thing back then.

fsttyms1

If it would hurt it they wouldnt let you do it. Just like at 50 you can put it into 1st but it wont go into that gear.
Plus thats where a little common sense should come in.

mestizoracer310

Come to think of it, if that really was the case, there'd be a lockout until you come to a complete stop. Or whatever criteria it's looking for. Can't believe I didn't think of this before...

arctech

I've switched on the fly from D5 to SS at freeway speeds with no complaints from the tranny. Like someone else said these cars are mostly fly-by-wire with sophisticated electronics and rev limiters, not your dad's 72 Celica. I think if there ever was real problem with at-speed switching Acura would have said so in bold print as that would be a real basic.

Word of caution about SS if you have previously driven other manual cars: Always push the lever forward, not back for higher gear. My previous car was a stick Nissan so I'm used to moving the shifter backward from 3rd to 4th. I was heading to Tahoe in the TL and I was in SS 3 on a fast climb. I'm not sure what my RPMs were but when I cleared the top I moved the lever backward thinking I was shifting to a higher gear. It just seemed natural like in the Nissan. Everyone in the car lurched forward and the engine screamed and suddenly my ability to handle the car came into question. I was going too fast for 2nd gear but still under the rev limit. Then came those most hurtful words from my wife: Honey, do you want me to drive?

JterrorC

iTrader: (1)

what about going uphill on d4....den a big downhill comes n put it in neutral....another uphill.. slide it back to d4 (waitin till tranny in place den gas)...

01tl4tl

you are joking right?

ineedmyfixofacura

iTrader: (2)

No to be a thread stealer, but would driving daily in SS hurt the tranny? I almost NEVER drive regular, I'm always using SS to shift early at like 2k-2.5k, and it works as well I stay away from 5th in the city.

I do 20/80 highway/city driving and in a tank (not counting the 50 extra miles from when the light goes on) I can get 23mpg, not to shabby hehe, I haven't done a seafoam or injector cleaning either, that should bump up the mpg, same with the AEM CAI I'm about to buy

01tl4tl

the problem with daily use is if you downshift a lot into 2nd or 3rd to slow the car-- instead of using the brakes.
The gear selection allows you to be on the torque band for the speed you are at and accellerate off the corner in the correct gear.
If you are nort racing thats of little concern to street drivers who simply push the pedal and go to the next stoplight
Downshifting causes heat- that puts wear on the weakest part of the system

2500 rpm is a normal shift point for the auto trans under light throttle
Experiment with that in D5 and see how the shifts compare to you in ss
You should get better mileage letting the car run things!
Seafoam will help- the cai will take away as you get leadfoot with most of them~
new plugs after foam and its like a new car

CL-Slick

iTrader: (7)

I'm in bumper to bumper traffic everyday on my way to school and I keep it in D4 for that. It's better on the tranny because it doesn't want to shift as much.

'02_TL-S

Mine jerks around a bit when in D5..kinda like the manual jerk when you let off the gas..in D4 and in traffic..it doesn't jerk around so much so I keep it in that. and that way it's not reachin for 5th so much. plus the manual says to drive in D4 mhen not at freeway speeds anyways so I'll listen to my manual

01tl4tl

yeah! someone who read and follows the book of instructions!!!

D4 keeps it from trying to find 5th at the lowest possible speed- for fuel savings
Have to remember to put it back in d5 when traffic start moving above 45 again
Very easy to be in 4th at higher speeds and not realize it, losing gas mileage

You can also use d4 on a steep downhill to help control speed and save the brakes till you need them..instead of riding the brakes

ineedmyfixofacura

iTrader: (2)

I did a little messing around and notice on "D" driving even when being light on the throttle it shifted at 3k vs SS I shifted at 2k. I will try D4 once I fill up and see how much I can run on it from full to when the light comes on.